Adjustable tray assembly for use in desk drawers

Abstract

An adjustable tray assembly adaptable for use in desk drawers having side walls spaced at various distances. The tray assembly includes a first portion having a plurality of open top receptacles and a support lip projecting away from one side, and a second portion also with a projecting support lip and mounted on the first portion to affording relative movement between the portions to change the spacing between the first and second support lips so that they can be supported on the upper edge surfaces of the side walls of the drawers of different widths with the first and second portions bridging therebetween. The tray assembly can also include dispensers for office supplies including note paper, tape flags and tape; the tape dispenser being of a novel low profile design.

We claim: 
     
       1. An adjustable tray assembly adaptable for use in desk drawers of the types having side walls with parallel upper edge surfaces spaced at various distances, said tray assembly having a generally planar top surface and comprising: a first portion comprising walls forming a main part of said first portion comprising a plurality of receptacles having openings adjacent said top surface, and a first support lip adjacent said top surface projecting away from said main part generally parallel to said top surface adapted to be supported on the upper edge surface of one of the side walls of the desk drawer;   a second portion comprising two spaced parallel side walls having top and bottom edges and first and second ends with said side walls being elongate between said first and second ends, an end wall extending between the first ends of said side walls and having top and bottom edges, a bottom wall joined to and extending between said side and end walls adjacent the bottom edges of said side and end walls, said side and bottom walls having adjacent inner surfaces; and a second support lip projecting from adjacent the top surface of said end wall on the side of said end wall opposite said side walls and adapted to be supported on the upper edge surface of one of the side walls of the desk drawer; and   means in engagement between said first and second portions for positioning at least a portion of said main part along the inner surfaces of the side and bottom walls of said second portion, for affording relative movement of said first and second portions in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of said side walls to change the spacing between the end wall of the second portion and the main part of said first portion and thereby the spacing between said first and second support lips so that said spacing may be manually adjusted to position said first and second support lips on the upper edge surfaces of the side walls of the drawers of different widths with the first and second portions bridging therebetween;   said means in engagement between said first and second portions comprising said walls of said first portion defining elongate spaces adapted to closely receive the side walls of said second portion with said main part along the inner surfaces of said side and bottom walls, said spaces and side walls of said first portion being adapted to afford longitudinal movement of said side walls of said second portion along said spaces to change the spacing between said first and second support lips, and means for retaining said side walls of said second portion within the spaces defined in said first portion in opposition to the separating forces therebetween caused by the weight of said first and second portions when said tray assembly is supported only by and bridges between said support lips;   said walls of said first portion include outer guide walls defining sides of said spaces opposite said main part and having top surface portions, said walls of said first portion have slots communicating with said spaces and partially defined by said top surface portions, and each of said side walls of said second portion has a lug projecting through the adjacent slot with an end portion of the lug positioned to bear against the top surface portion of the adjacent guide wall to provide a portion of said means for retaining said side walls within the spaces defined in said first portion in opposition to the separating forces therebetween caused by the weight of said first and second portions when said tray assembly is supported only by and bridges between said lips; and   said walls of said first portion include walls defining a dispenser for tape of the type comprising a backing having first and second major surfaces, opposite longitudinal edges spaced by a dimension W, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second surface of the backing, which tape is helically wound about the peripheral surface of a core having a diametrical dimension D and opposite side surfaces spaced by about said dimension W to form a roll having opposite side surfaces defined by the edge surfaces of the backing and side surfaces of the core with the first major surface of the backing being disposed radially outwardly from the second major surface of the tape in the roll, said walls defining the dispenser for tape including: cavity defininy walls defining a cavity including a bottom wall having a normally horizontally extending support surface supporting one side surface of the roll of tape, said walls having abutment surfaces adapted to be contacted by the periphery of the roll of tape projecting generally normal to said support surface and spaced by a dimension less than the diametrical dimension of the core to define an exit opening between said abutment surfaces through which the tape may be withdrawn from the roll;   passageway defining walls defining an exit passageway extending in a direction generally parallel with said support surface and communicating with said exit opening, one of said passageway defining walls defining a guide edge surface generally parallel to said support surface on the side of the passageway opposite said support surface, defining the end of the exit passageway opposite the exit opening, and adapted to be engaged by the first surface of the backing with the guide edge surface extending generally transverse of the backing, said guide edge surface being spaced from said exit opening by at least about 2 times W to afford longitudinal twisting of said tape along said passageway by about 90 degrees between said exit opening and said guide edge surface to position the first surface of the backing along said guide edge surface, and being spaced normal to a plane coplanar with said support surface by a distance in the range of about 0.5 times W to about 1.25 times W;   tape end portion positioning walls defining a land surface adapted to have the pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the tape releasably adhered thereto, a space between said land surface and said guide edge surface affording positioning a users finger along the adhesive coated surface of the tape between said guide surface and said land surface and pealing of the tape from the land surface and subsequently withdraw tape from the roll by the user; and   a cutter blade mounted at the end of said land surface opposite said guide surface and adapted for severing a length of tape withdrawn from the roll.     
     
     
       2. A tray assembly according to claim 1 further including means for releasably retaining said side walls of said second portion at a predetermined position longitudinally along said spaces when said tray assembly is supported only by and bridges between said support lips comprising said support lips including distal edge portions adapted to engage the outer surfaces of side walls of drawers having upper surfaces on which the support lips are supported. 
     
     
       3. A tray assembly according to claim 1 wherein said walls defining said land surface are disposed generally centrally along said lip on said first portion, and said exit passageway extends generally at a right angle away from said lip. 
     
     
       4. A tray assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spaced abutment surfaces are arcuate about axes extending generally normal to said support surface. 
     
     
       5. A tray assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spaced abutment surfaces are each defined by spaced parallel ridges, and are arcuate about axes extending generally normal to said support surface. 
     
     
       6. A dispenser for tape comprising a backing having first and second major surfaces, opposite longitudinal edges spaced by a dimension W, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second surface of the backing, which tape is helically wound about the peripheral surface of a core having a diametrical dimension D and opposite side surfaces spaced by about said dimension W to form a roll having opposite side surfaces defined by the edge surfaces of the backing and side surfaces of the core with the first major surface of the backing being disposed radially outwardly from the second major surface of the tape in the roll, said dispenser comprising: cavity defining walls defining a cavity including a bottom wall having a normally horizontally extending support surface supporting one side surface of the roll of tape, said walls having abutment surfaces projecting generally normal to said support surface and spaced by a dimension less than the diametrical dimension of the core to define an exit opening between said abutment surfaces through which the tape may be withdrawn from the roll;   passageway defining walls defining an exit passageway extending in a direction generally parallel with said support surface and communicating with said exit opening, one of said passageway defining walls defining a guide edge surface generally parallel to said support surface on the side of the passageway opposite said support surface, defining the end of the exit passageway opposite the exit opening, and being adapted to be engaged by the first surface of the backing with the guide edge surface extending generally transverse of the backing, said guide edge surface being spaced from said exit opening by at least about 2 times W to afford longitudinal twisting of said tape along said passageway by about 90 degrees between said exit opening and said guide edge surface to position the first surface of the backing along said guide edge surface, and being spaced normal to a plane coplanar with said support surface by a distance in the range of about 0.5 times W to about 1.25 times W,   tape end positioning walls defining a land surface adapted to have the pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the tape releasably adhered thereto, a space between said land surface and said guide edge surface affording positioning of a users finger along the adhesive coated surface of the tape between said guide surface and said land surface and pealing of the tape from the land surface and subsequently withdraw tape from the roll by the user; and   a cutter blade mounted at the end of said land surface opposite said guide surface and adapted for severing a length of tape withdrawn from the roll.   
     
     
       7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said spaced abutment surfaces are arcuate about axes extending generally normal to said support surface. 
     
     
       8. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said spaced abutment surfaces are each defined by spaced parallel ridges, and are arcuate about axes extending generally normal to said support surface. 
     
     
       9. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said support surface is discontinuous and defined by a plurality of spaced wall portions to restrict adhesion between said support surface and adhesive along the side surface of the roll of tape. 
     
     
       10. A dispenser according to claim 6 for tape also having a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the first surface of the backing, wherein said guide edge surface and said spaced abutment surfaces are provided by the peripheries of rotatably mounted rollers, said rollers including means for limiting adhesion of the layers of adhesive with the peripheries of the rollers. 
     
     
       11. An tray assembly adaptable for use in desk drawers of the types having side walls with parallel spaced upper edge, said tray assembly having a generally planar top surface and comprising: walls forming a main part comprising a plurality of receptacles having openings adjacent said top surface, and first and second support lips adjacent said top surface projecting away from said main part generally parallel to said top surface in opposite directions, said support lips being adapted to be supported on the upper edge surfaces of the side walls of the desk drawer;   said walls including walls defining a dispenser for tape of the type comprising a backing having first and second major surfaces, opposite longitudinal edges, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second surface of the backing, which tape is helically wound about the peripheral surface of a core having opposite side surfaces to form a roll having opposite side surfaces defined by the edge surfaces of the backing and side surfaces of the core with the first major surface of the backing being disposed radially outwardly from the second major surface of the tape in the roll, said walls defining the dispenser for tape including:   cavity defining walls defining a cavity including a bottom wall having a normally horizontally extending support surface supporting one side surface of the roll of tape, said walls having surfaces projecting generally normal to said support surface and spaced to define an exit opening through which the tape may be withdrawn from the roll;   passageway defining walls defining an exit passageway extending in a direction generally parallel with said support surface and communicating with said exit opening, one of said passageway defining walls defining a guide edge surface generally parallel to said support surface on the side of the passageway opposite said support surface, defining the end of the exit passageway opposite the exit opening, and adapted to be engaged by the first surface of the backing with the guide edge surface extending generally transverse of the backing, said guide edge surface being spaced from said exit opening to afford longitudinal twisting of said tape along said passageway by about 90 degrees between said roll of tape and said guide edge surface to position the first surface of the backing along said guide edge surface,   tape end portion positioning walls defining a land surface adapted to have the pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the tape releasably adhered thereto, a space between said land surface and said guide edge surface affording positioning a users finger along the adhesive coated surface of the tape between said guide surface and said land surface and pealing of the tape from the land surface and subsequently withdraw tape from the roll by the user; and   a cutter blade mounted at the end of said land surface opposite said guide surface and adapted for severing a length of tape withdrawn from the roll;   said walls defining said land surface being disposed generally centrally along one of said lips, and said exit passageway extends generally at a right angle away from said one of said lips.   
     
     
       12. A tray assembly according to claim 11 wherein said walls defining said land surface are disposed generally centrally along said one of said lips. 
     
     
       13. A tray assembly according to claim 11 wherein said spaced surfaces projecting generally normal to said support surface to define an exit opening are abutment surfaces adapted to be contacted by the peripheral surface of the roll of tape, which abutment surfaces are spaced by a dimension less than the diametrical dimension of the core. 
     
     
       14. A tray assembly according to claim 13 wherein said spaced abutment surfaces are arcuate about axes extending generally normal to said support surface. 
     
     
       15. An tray assembly according to claim 11 wherein said tray assembly has a first portion including the first support lip, and a second portion including the second support lip; and means in engagement between said first and second portions for for affording relative movement of said first and second portions in a direction parallel to said top surface to change the spacing between said first and second support lips so that said spacing may be manually adjusted to position said first and second support lips on the upper edge surfaces of the side walls of the drawers of different widths with the first and second portions bridging therebetween.   
     
     
       16. A dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said support surface is discontinuous and defined by a plurality of spaced wall portions to restrict adhesion between said support surface and adhesive along the side surface of the roll of tape.